Life Skills quilt auction sets new record

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Plymouth County Fair King Ben Schilmoeller and Queen Caine Westergard display a vintage fabric patchwork quilt constructed by Connie Vornbrock and sold at the Life Skills Foundation Charity Quilt Auction Saturday in Century Hall. The quilt was purchased by Wayne and Kelley Pick and presented to Wayne's sister, Sue, who receives services at Life Skills Training Center. [Click to enlarge]

This is the third year the auction, held in Century Hall on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds, has broken a record in the amount of money raised for persons with disabilities.

The first quilt sold, a patchwork quilt in shades of orange, yellow, green and blue vintage fabric, was purchased by Wayne and Kelley Pick. The quilt was presented to Wayne's sister, Sue Pick, who receives services at Life Skills. A thank you from the Pick family to the quilters and bidders was then read.

Auctioneers Bruce Brock of Brock Auction Co. and Randy Stabe and Bryan Rubis of Stabe Auction, who donated their time, quickly got to work selling the other 64 items which included colorful quilts, afghans, baby quilts, throws, wall hangings and decorative quilted pieces.

A high bid of $850 by Greg and Pam Wells purchased the Grandma's Flower Garden antique quilt done by Della Brouilette and Becky Wiersma.

Another antique quilt made by Brouilette and Wiersma was purchased by Kosgrove, Inc., of Sioux Center, for $600.

Residents and volunteers at Park Place Estates made a John Deere throw for the auction. The throw was purchased by Lorvan and Phyllis Hawkins of Ireton, for $525.

A queen-size Triple Irish chain quilt by St. John's Lutheran Quilters in Le Mars was purchased by Dan Pick, of Oyens, for $500.

Brock made the auction more interesting when he brought two fleece throws, one for Le Mars Bulldogs and one for Gehlen Jays, up for bid.

"We're going to have a little competition between the 'Dogs and the Jays," Brock said, with the highest bidder having choice on which throw they would purchase.

After the lively, good natured bidding, Greg and Pam Wells took home the Bulldogs throw with Chris Kessenich purchasing the Jays throw.

"The people of Plymouth County are so supportive of Life Skills," said Becky Scheitler, public relations coordinator for Life Skills. "Quilters and bidders alike, each year they continue to outdo themselves with increased support."

Life Skills client Jeanne Treinen added her thanks to those at the auction.

"Thank you for the quilts. Thank you for buying the quilts," said Treinen.

The first auction, held in Foster Park in 1997, had 16 quilts and raised $2,015, according to Scheitler.

Last year, the auction featured 56 quilts and raised more than $12,000.

The auction is sponsored by Life Skills Foundation and was headed this year by Denyse Meister, of Kingsley.

Life Skills Training Center provides persons with disabilities training in life skills and job skills. The center operates a commercial laundry which employees a number of clients from around Plymouth County.